Complete the Pet Attribute Worksheet (PAWS)--an owner reported personality measure for Dogs

Research

It is a good morning exercise for a research scientist to discard a pet hypothesis every day before breakfast. It keeps him young. Konrad Lorenz (1903 - 1989)

Statement of Research Interests
My research has focused on the programmatic examination of the psychometric properties of interpersonal measures of personality and the role and function of interpersonal style in maintenance of mental health (particularly the anxiety disorders) and relationship satisfaction. Though broad in perspective, all of these projects are linked by my own theoretical orientation in interpersonal relations and circumplex theories of personality. I have published most recently on the role of interpersonal functioning on symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the importance of interpersonal complementarity in companion animal adoptions. This research dovetails nicely with my work as an interpersonal therapist and adds to my classroom instruction in clinical psychology by maintaining my knowledge and awareness of new object-relations based therapeutic interventions, techniques, and theories.

More recently, my field research experiences working with PTSD in Liberian war refugees has spurred a growing interest in international psychology and the behavioral health issues facing West African communities. Specifically, I have cultivated a research interest in psycho-educational interventions to prevent the spread of AIDS among war refugee populations—a population underserved by the medical and mental health communities, yet one hard hit by the transmission of HIV. Future research endeavors and grant activity will be extended to the development and assessment of mental and behavioral health training programs in sub-Saharan Africa as I continue to grow my international research focus.